Recalculating child support for first year pay?

[Skaff]

I'll be hiring a lawyer when needed, but I want to educate myself a little from others experiences first. When I got divorced, my child support was calculated on my monthly average income. I'm hoping for a thumbs up from United this week, and if I am successful, I'll need to recalculate my child support to reflect first year pay. I'll have no income history from United, so will my child support be based on minimum hour monthly guarantee? Is that 70 hours at United? My ex's lawyer was a shark in the past, and I was just wondering what others in this situation have experienced.

 

[HighSpeedClimb]

My ex's lawyer wouldn't accept min guarantee pay on paper, contract or no contract. She required 3 pay stubs. She was aware of pilot pay and per diem etc. if you can get your ex to except the United contract min pay go for it. Just don't let them see the yearly increases section!

 

[Whine Lover]

Obviously each State/Situation differs...That said:

- Do NOT show them a contract, pay scale, etc. It gives them too much ammo.

- Definitely, show them the first few pay stubs. Let them figure it out from there. Additionally, do not delay. Make sure you show them the FIRST few...When you are in training and there is nothing but min guarantee pay. Heck show them the first 4 weeks stubs...

- Only show the portion of the pay stub that indicates your gross and take home. Most States base pay on a percentage of Net pay. You have every right to max. out your 401k and to take advantage of Flex Health Plans etc.

- My State did not consider Per Diem. It was considered a necessary expense for living on the road. Try to keep it out of the equation.

- Also, see if you can avoid having wages garnished. Most courts don't want the additional responsibility of policing these agreements and/or resolving disputes. If so, always pay on time and in full. Live up to the commitment and it keeps everybody happy. ( And out of Court. Which generally, benefits you. )

Good Luck. I was relatively unscathed, but I have heard some real horror stories as laws vary and Judges are effed up from State to State.

YKW

 

[Skaff]

Thanks so much for the advice. I got raped in the past, trying to go into this one the best I can.

 

[Mr Proachpoint]

Here's another point to consider.

At United your first few months pay will be higher than the rest of your first year, so be careful with showing the first couple pay stubs. During training you're on 90 hour guarantee and 24/7 per diem. Once on line you will likely be on reserve at 73 hour guarantee and minimal per diem. Makes a difference.

 

[Whine Lover]

Wow...Good Info.

Who would'a thunk it? Why do they do 90 hour Guarantee? Unheard of...? But, GREAT.

Sometimes, this Forum is worth something...!

 

[RT8VA]

Training pay is 3 hours a day for long term training so for a 30 day month it is 90 hours, days off are included in pay.

 

[K-Mart]

I would say it depends on what you were payed before going to Yonited and what you will be payed at Yonited. If there is a significant and material change in your salary than yes it could be changed but if you did this job change voluntarily then man you could be on the hook.

Example
If a person is say a physician paying XXXXX amount of child support then quits their job and is making nothing, the court will absolutely require him to keep paying what was agreeded to cause he voluntarily quit and could make money commensurate with his skill.

Either way consult an attorney familiar with pilots and your own situation. Each state varies with family code etc..

 

[SMcC]

The objective is to arrive at a legal settlement that will satisfy your ex, her lawyer and the court, and it is reasonable that the figures be adjusted with a change in circumstance.
...all well and good.
Just remember in the end, even if your ex and you hate each other, take care of the kids.

 

[Skaff]

Thanks for the advice... We were told to recalculate annually, so that's all good info. And taking care of the kids is priority number 1... But she is doing well financially to handle the adjustment and still handle child expenses even with my reduced pay during first year.

 

[livin'thesim]

End the feminist family-court extortion system.

And a man has to be insane to marry these days. Over and over I see good friends ground to powder by the female-oriented family court system.

Advice: Do NOT play nice with an ex-wife. Use your lawyer. Fight her hard. Make it hard on her. Wear her down. Do NOT get stuck with imputed income that you are not actually making.

If she is reasonable, you be reasonable. Otherwise, make her pony up for lawyers.

 

[St. Nic]

Just don't get married! Sex for free costs more than when you have to pay for it!!!

 

[Uncle Bunkle]

Shouldn't have got her preggo...

 

[RP 04]

And that's why anal is so great!

 

[Nevets]

This is for your child, right? Or are you talking about spousal support?

 

[Traderd]

And that's why anal is so great!

Not so fast! We already have too many lawyers; don't advocate the conception of even more

 

[Ben Franklin]

I'll be hiring a lawyer when needed, but I want to educate myself a little from others experiences first. When I got divorced, my child support was calculated on my monthly average income. I'm hoping for a thumbs up from United this week, and if I am successful, I'll need to recalculate my child support to reflect first year pay. I'll have no income history from United, so will my child support be based on minimum hour monthly guarantee? Is that 70 hours at United? My ex's lawyer was a shark in the past, and I was just wondering what others in this situation have experienced.

Skaff,

I went through 2-3 years of sheer hell trying to get a divorce from a girl who was cheating on me with dudes I called "friend" for 16 years, smearing my name to anyone who would listen, instigating fights to get me on video as an "abuser" and filing false abuse claims with the court, asking for full custody... I turned the other cheek like MLK and jeebus would do and silently brought my documentation to court and politely "owned" the other side. For the false abuse, she didn't show up to court and called on the phone and "told" the judge that he should drop the case, as she had other things to do that day... right, well...

My $0.02 and only because you asked,

leave your case alone, move on with your life and enjoy your children when you see them.

if you re-open your case and I'm opposing counsel, I'm going to ask about United's total compensation package for the next xx years, including PRAP, Profit sharing, monthly on time bonuses, Per diem raises, longevity raises and any other benefits you will enjoy that my client now can't (victim card plays WELL in court)...

I'm going to ask the judge to deny you because you're taking the job at United voluntarily with full knowledge of the SHORT TERM loss of income and how you need to support your children regardless of your other choices, etc, etc...after it's all said and done, I'm then going to ask the Judge to make you submit a W-2 annually. Then I'm going to ask the Judge that you pay $0.10 of any GROSS dollar, PER CHILD that you earn over (70 hours X $first year pay rate) MONTHLY and including bonuses and profit sharing - until the kids are 18, die, emancipated, marry, turn 19, finish high school. (When you bid 787 FO in 5 years, and get a $10,000 profit sharing check, that extra 10% per child is going to sting unless you can get a cap in place....)

I'd also cite some cases where your case was denied previously - as these cases usually are in most states

and, unless you're in a VERY dad friendly state, you're going to end up paying Waaaay T F more than had you remained silent.

Why not try mediation with a retired family law judge from your state first?

Is it possible to negotiate with your ex out of court and without lawyers?

Good luck...

 

[Jim]

This is for your child, right? Or are you talking about spousal support?

Are you are questioning his willingness to pay for his kid? Have you ever been in his situation?

My kid didn't need the sports car and the 60 inch flat screen HD TV her MOM and step-dad decided was the bare minimum required to meet her needs. A Ford and a 48 inch TV were more than sufficient.

I busted my ass paying child support based on the states's formula. Luckily I had a Judge who agreed the money wasn't being spent wisely to the benefit of the child. He just asked my daughter if her Mom ever took her clothes shopping or feed her anywhere but a in a resturant.

 

[Nevets]

Are you are questioning his willingness to pay for his kid? Have you ever been in his situation?

My kid didn't need the sports car and the 60 inch flat screen HD TV her MOM and step-dad decided was the bare minimum required to meet her needs. A Ford and a 48 inch TV were more than sufficient.

I busted my ass paying child support based on the states's formula. Luckily I had a Judge who agreed the money wasn't being spent wisely to the benefit of the child. He just asked my daughter if her Mom ever took her clothes shopping or feed her anywhere but a in a resturant.

I'm asking because I was wondering if in his state, they combine child and spousal support as one thing or if they differentiate. But as far as your question, it's also about equaling the QOL of the child at both households. It's not just in providing the bare necessities. But yeah, the underlying issue should be that each parent should want to support their children, financially as well. Sometimes as a parent you can't control certain things but that shouldn't stop them from doing what is right. Everyone will eventually be judged.

 

[Uncle Bunkle]

Everyone will eventually be judged.

Judge Judy is cool.

 

[waveflyer]

You know, I grew up with a single mom. And courts were awful to her. My dad paid next to nothing and it affected everything about us. Especially my oldest brother.
That said, it's another swing of the pendulum, and man has it swung wayy too far.
It sure would be nice to not have the lawyers involved. But that's not reality.